PluralismB.6.5.2018

Details on the availability of my books, supporting progressive religious thought, HERESuggestion: ’Refresh’ each page before reading - especially if you are using Google Chrome - to make sure to get my latest edition

For thousands of years Indigenous people have walked
in this land, on their own country.
Their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives.

We acknowledge the (NN) People and their stewardship
of this land throughout the ages.

(NN) is a safe place for all people to worship regardless ofrace, creed, age, cultural background or sexual orientation

GATHERING

Rich and Striking Visuals “The function of beauty… is to make us aware of a reality which is richer and deeper and more marvellous than anything we can dream or conceive.” (Henry N. Wieman) Artwork OR Floral/Symbols display (cloths, candles, stones, wood, leaves, flowers, earth, water) OR projection of Film/Slides

Gathering Music

Entry into the CelebrationThe gong is sounded three times

Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.

Hymn People stand as they are able, to sing
"O God of Stars and Sunlight" (Tune: 'Munich', 76 76D) 11 SLT
O God of stars and sunlight,
whose wind lifts up a bird,
in marching wave and leaf-fall
we hear your patient word.
The colour of your seasons
goes gold across the land:
by green upon the tree-tops
we know your moving hand.

O God of cloud and mountain,
whose rain on rock is art,
your plan and care and meaning
renew the head and heart.
Your word and colour spoken,
your summer noons and showers
by these and by your day-shine,
we know your world is ours.

Opening SentencesAmong us the spirit of Creativity God conceives new life
All And we feel the life within us. In our history Jesus the Sage makes gentle entry All And we see the light before us. Within our dreams the truth of our God is revealed All We await the hope of the world.

OR

Out of a community of diverse heritage and belief, All we come together to share our hope, and to create good in the world.

The teachers of all traditions and times have taught that we are called to mercy, generosity, and mutual care Alland that to be good is to serve.

We know that there can be no enduring happiness for humanity so long as suffering and want go unrelieved; All until all may be sheltered, none of us is truly at home.

May the power of our various faiths sustain us in this work, that we may be the hands of holy creativity and justice;Alland together build a better world.(Adapted.Kendyl Gibbons)

Act of AwarenessWe stand before our sisters and brothers,
the named and the unnamed,
the known and the unknown,
with thanksgiving for all the bounties of the human world:
for the arts,
for the sciences,
for mercies shown and given (Adapt.Kenneth Patton/sscol).

OR

We pray:
Be with us, O God, in
our thinking,
our feeling, and
our being.

Touch us where we need to feel your presence
and encourage us where we need your inspiration.
May it be so.

Lighting of the Community CandleThe Community Candle is lit

At times our own light goes out
and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude
of those who have lighted the flame within us. (Albert Schweitzer)

Note: (i) A suggested process for introducing new hymns, called Hymn of the Month, can be found HERE(ii) Additional Special Purpose Hymns that cover major international events or themes can be found HERE They include these categories: 1. Bush (Brush) Fire, 2. Tsunami, Storms/Cyclones, 3. Earthquakes, 4. War/Remembrance, 5. Caregiving, 6. God as Mother, 7. Human Trafficking, 8. Disabled, 9. Migration/Refugees, 10. Terrorist Attacks, 11. Science/Cosmology(iii) PLUS some specific resources on Terrorism HERE

Hymn “Progressive Hymn” (Tune: 87 87)When life juggles with our learning,
with the things we thought secure,
then it seems the artist’s palette
spins and faith becomes obscure.

In the wash of different colours,
as we seek for shape and form,
others paint their faith by numbers
forcing God to fit some norm.

But when life has torn the canvas,
when the numbers twist and slip;
then we need to find an image
that will help our hope to grip:

Welcome (In your own words)A warm welcome is extended to all.
Especially those who are worshipping at (NN) for the first time,
or who have returned after an absence.

Your presence both enriches us and this time of celebration together.Refer to printed liturgy.
Fellowship hour following worship.
Those visiting, please sign our Visitors book.

CENTERING

Reflection“Fire of the Spirit”
By Hildegard of Bingen

v1 Fire of the Spirit,
life of the lives of creatures,
spiral of sanctity,
bond of all natures,
glow of charity,
lights of clarity,
tastes of sweetness to the fallen,
be with us and hear us.

v2 Composer of all things,
joy in the glory,
strong honour,
be with us and hear us.

Silence
Let us again listen to the silence of this sacred space.
A space made ready for us by willing hands.(Silence)

Amid all the noise in our lives,
we take this moment to sit in silence:
to give thanks for another day;
to give thanks for all those in our lives who have brought us warmth and love;
to give thanks for the gift of life.(Silence)

Let us open ourselves to the process of becoming more whole:
of living more fully;
of giving and forgiving more freely;
of understanding more completely
the meaning of our lives here on this earth.(Adapt.Tim Haley)

Music of Reflection

EXPLORING

Readings from our broad Religious TraditionWe explore some of the writings of various religious traditions
as we join with others in celebrating Pluralism Sunday.
Our readers are (NN) and (NN).

Hebrew Scriptures:
Psalm 98

O sing a new song to the Eternal.
Shout praise, all earth, break into music and song!
Praise the Eternal with the lyre,
with lyre and song.

Let the sea and all within it thunder praise,
the world and its inhabitants,
let rivers clap their hands,
let mountains sing in chorus.

O sing a new song to the Eternal.

Hindu Scriptures:
"The Stream of Life"
Rabindranath Tagore

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day
runs through the world
and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy
through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass
and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked
in the ocean-cradle of birth and death,
in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious
by the touch of this world of life.
And my pride is from the life-throb of ages
dancing in my blood this moment.

HymnPeople stand as they are able, to sing
“Children of the Human Race” (Tune: ‘Aberystwyth’ 77 77D) 302 SLT
Children of the human race,
off-spring of our Mother Earth,
not alone in endless space
has our planet given birth.
Far across the cosmic skies
countless suns in glory blaze,
and from untold planets rise
endless canticles of praise.

Should some sign of others reach
this, our lonely planet Earth,
differences of form and speech
must not hide our common worth.
When at length our minds are free,
and the clouds of fear disperse,
then at last we’ll learn to be
Children of the Universe. (John A Storey)
People sit

Gospel of Jesus:Selected from the writings of the storyteller we call Luke

The Reign of God is not coming as you hope to catch sight of it.
No one will say "Here it is" or "There it is"
for the Reign of God is now in your midst...

Look how the lilies neither spin nor weave,
and yet I tell you Solomon in all his grandeur
was never robed like one of them...

Where your treasure lies, your heart will lie there too...

No one lights a lamp to put it under a bowl, but on a stand,
so that those who come in can see the light...

Wisdom is vindicated by all her children...

Figs are not gathered from thorns,
and grapes are not picked from a bramble bush...

We affirm the unfailing renewal of life.
All Rising from the earth, and reaching for the sun,
all living creatures shall fulfill themselves.

We affirm the steady growth of human companionship.
All Rising from ancient cradles and reaching for the stars,
people the world over shall seek the ways of understanding.

We affirm a continuing hope.
All That out of every tragedy
the spirits of individuals shall rise
to build a better world. (Leonard Mason/slt)

The PeaceNo matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey,
you are welcome here in this safe and sacred place.
So let us greet another as a sign of God's universal peace.

The peace and presence of God is here... to stay. (Iona)
All Thanks be to God.You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours.

Hymn People stand as they are able, to sing“Sing with Me, Friends!” (Tune: ‘Faithnotes’) 40 TEL
Sing with me, friends, for God invites us,
find a new song to resonate!
Savor the signs of God around us,
beauty that minds and hands create-
celebrate joy,
celebrate hope,
celebrate this good world!

Sing with me, friends, through calm and crisis,
sing when the roads we take are rough,
stay with our dream of common purpose,
God will provide us strength enough-
stay through the loss,
stay through the pain,
suffering shapes our world.

Sing with me, friends: we need each other,
widening circles on the way,
tending the earth with care together,
taking small measures every day,
singing for life,
singing for peace,
nurturing this good world! (Shirley Erena Murray)
People sit

Conversation with the ChildrenChildren gather on conversation mat

Conversation:

"Somewhere someone":

The kingdom of love is coming because:
All somewhere someone is kind when others are unkind,somewhere someone shares with another in need,
somewhere someone refuses to hate, while others hate,
somewhere someone is patient - and waits in love,
somewhere someone returns good for evil,
somewhere someone serves another, in love,
somewhere someone is calm in a storm,
somewhere someone is loving everybody.Is that someone you? (jke)

Reflections and PrayersCare Candle:We are people of all ages who enter this space
bringing our joys and concerns.Joys and Celebrations; Griefs and Concerns shared

Focused Thoughts:

Listening Response:
In the light and beauty of day
All We give thanks in awe and wonder.In the dark and stillness of night All We dream of healing and hope. (Gretta Vosper/wwg)

And so we take a flame and light our special Care Candle. ..The Care Candle is lit

For ourselves, for those named or remembered, and in solidarity with those
who have not the freedom to express their concern or celebration
for fear of discrimination or condemnation.

In all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful
of the presentness of the sacred among us,
and to see new possibilities of the now.

The'Abba’ Prayer:(Optional)You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Abba/Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as appropriate

All Father, may your name be holy.
May your rule take place.
Give us each day our daily bread.

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNIONOfferingsOur offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,
and our gifts of bread and wine, shall now be received.

PresentationSpirit of God, among the streets of business
and in places of healing and learning:
All May the face of the earth be renewed.

Among the budding orchards
and in the grassless paddocks:
All Maythe face of the earth be renewed.

Among the tired and broken families:
All Maythe face of the earth be renewed.

Among these people and with these gifts:
All Maythe face of the earth be renewed.

Welcome to the TableAt
this table we give thanks for justice,
love, peace and freedom.
Mn At
this table we give thanks for friends and strangers
together
in community in this safe place.Wm At this table we
welcome old and young.

v2 A
place at the table. And all are
invited.

ThanksgivingWe
give thanks for the unfolding of matter, mind,
intelligence, and
life that
has brought us to this moment in time.
All We celebrate our common origin with everything that exists.

v1 We
celebrate the mystery we experience and address as ‘God’,
ground
and sustainer of everything that exists,
in
whom we live and move and have our being.
v2 And
we acknowledge this mystery embodied in
every human person,
aware
that each one of us gives God
unique
and personal expression.
All God is
everywhere present.
In
grace-filled moments of sharing.
In
carefully created communities of loving solidarity.

We
are one with everything, living and nonliving, on this planet.
Connected.
Interrelated.
Interdependent.

The StoryWe
remember the stories from our tradition...

How
on many occasions Jesus would share a
meal with friends.
Bread
and wine shared in community.
v2 For
everyone born, a place at the table...

How
the bread would be taken,
a
blessing offered, and then shared between them.
And
all of them ate.

How
some wine would be poured out,
a
blessing offered, and then passed between them.
And
all of them drank.

v2 The
bread and the wine symbolised human lives
interconnected
with other human lives,
and
the power of giving and receiving.

v1 May
the passion for life as seen in Jesus,
and
in the lives and struggles of many other
committed
and faithful people then and now,
enable
us to dare and to dream and to risk...
All Together
may we re-imagine the world.
Together may we work to make all things
new.
All Together
may we celebrate the possibilities and hope
we
each have and are called to share.

v2 For
everyone born, a place at the table...

Bread and WineBread is broken
several times

We
break the bread for the broken earth,
ravaged
and plundered for greed.
All May
there be healing of our beautiful blue and green planet.

We
break this bread for our broken humanity,
for
the powerful and the powerless
trapped
by exploitation and oppression.
All May
there be the healing of humanity.

We
break this bread for those who follow other paths:
for
those who follow the noble path of the Buddha,
the
yogic path of the Hindus;
the
way of the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs;
and
for the children of Abraham and Sarah and Rachel - the
Jews, and the Muslims.
All May
there be healing where there is pain and woundedness.

We
break this bread
for
the unhealed hurts and wounds
that
lie within us all.
All May we
be healed.

Wine
is poured into the cup/sThis
is the cup of peace and of new life for all.
A
sign of love for the community of hope.
All A
reminder of the call to
live fully,
to
love wastefully, and
to
be all that we can be.

CommunionTo
eat and drink together reminds us
of
the deeper aspects of human fellowship,
for
from time immemorial
the
sharing of bread and wine
has
been the most universal of all symbols of community.The Bread and Wine served in four groups in each corner of the sacred space

With pomp and pageantry
Beneath an onion dome,
Or in a bare and simple room,
we worship you.Chorus:

In chapel, mosque or shrine
we wait to praise your name,
through icon, book or choir
we worship you.Chorus:

With tabla or guitar,
or with a thousand lights,
through fasting, feasting, fellowship
we worship you.Chorus:

Words of BlessingAs the kookaburra gently settles on the tree, receive the gift of peace.
As the sun rises with light and warmth, receive the gift of life.
As the wind moves and dances round the earth, receive the gracious gift of the spirit. (DStewart/wb)May it be so.All May we make it be so.

OR

May the freshness of the dawn enliven my spirit,
May the rising of the sun enlighten my mind,
May the noon-tide of the day warm my heart
May the benediction of sunset clothe my being with restfulness. (William L Wallace/wb)
May it be so.
All May it be so with us.

Fellowship
Morning tea is now served.You are invited to share in this time of fellowship.

You are invited to keep this copy of the liturgy and take it home with youto share with another member of your family, or with a friend

I recommend the use of
LicenSing - Copyright cleared music for churches

Some of the Resources used in Shaping this Liturgy:
Binkley, C. G. & J. M. McKeel. Jesus and his Kingdom of Equals. An International Curriculum on the Life and Teaching of Jesus. Santa Rosa. Polebridge Press, 2001.
Duncan, G. (ed). A World of Blessing. Benedictions from every Continent and many Cultures. Norwich. The Canterbury Press, 2000. Iona Community. Iona Abbey Worship Book. Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications, 2001.
Mack, B. L. The Lost Gospel. The Book of Q and Christian Origins. New York. HarperSanFrancisco, 1993.
(TEL) Murray, S. E. Touch the Earth Lightly. New Hymns written between 2003 & 2008. Carol Stream. Hope Publishing, 2008.
Patton, K. L. Services and Songs for the Celebration of Life. New Resource Material. Boston. Beacon Press, 1967.
(WNC) Pratt, A. Whatever Name or Creed. Hymns and Songs. London. Stainer & Bell Ltd, 2002.
(SLT) Singing the Living Tradition. Boston. UUA, 1993.
Vosper, G. With or Without God. Why the way we live is more important that what we believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins, 2008.